Elected Officials

DEMOLITION OF DILAPIDATED MESQUITE APARTMENTS TO GET UNDERWAY

DEMOLITION OF DILAPIDATED MESQUITE APARTMENTS TO GET UNDERWAY

2001-06-12 00:00

MESQUITE -- A two-story, former apartment complex that was condemned by Doña Ana County in 2000 is headed for demolition beginning at 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 13, 2001.County Building Inspections Director Frank Torres said the complex located at 110 Santo Tomas will be torn down, and the county will place a lien on the property, which property owner Martin Diaz can choose to pay. If he declines to pay, the county will foreclose on the land to recoup all or part of the cost of the demolition.The two-story, cinder-block structure has been vacant for more than a decade, and it has attracted transients, drug users and gang activity, creating a danger to the community and a significant drain on regional law-enforcement resources. Persistent complaints about the property’s disrepair and the illegal activities occurring within the structure prompted the County Commission to condemn the property in March of 2000.At the request of the property owner, he was given additional time to demolish the structure on his own to county satisfaction. When Diaz missed the deadline imposed by the county, a request for proposals (RFP) was prepared, and the county eventually selected Classic Industries, Inc., of Doña Ana to demolish the building and clear the lot at a cost of between $50,000 and $60,000, depending on complications that may arise during the demolition process. Torres said the demolition is expected to be completed within 60 days.For more information, call county Public Information Director Jess Williams at (505) 647-7229. Residents calling from outside the Las Cruces area may call toll-free at 1-877-827-7200, extension 7229.